Thread: Air over Hydraulic brakes

I wouldn't think so, Pedro. You need to turn the wheel as you adjust it, so there must be an adjuster somewhere on the backing plate.
Full air has been an industry standard in Australia for over fifty years.

Hello Pedro and V8 Ian,

I have been waiting for someone to mention air brakes. Ian, your towing my D1210 International ex-Telecom Linesman's van is no doubt one of your fond memories. That vehicle came fitted with pneumatic brakes for the plant trailers those trucks/vans routinely towed. Back in the 1970s and 80s the pneumatic controlled trailer brakes might have represented the peak of technology. While this van is placed as Number 2 on my list of priority restoration jobs - Snowy my 110 Defender currently holds pole position.

When its place on the grid comes up - is there much point remaining faithful to the van's now old pneumatic technology? Or would it be more reliable and easier to go up to the flash wireless electric trailer brake controller technology? Or my taking one step backward, to the hard-wired brake controller technology?

Hopefully, the type of brakes I am referring to match what Pedro started this thread about. Sorry for the hijacking of the thread - Pedro!

Kind regards
Lionel

Lionel, I think your van has vacuum boosted trailer brakes.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Lionel, I think your van has vacuum boosted trailer brakes.

G'day Ian,

Well you know, Ian - them ones too!

Are they still used? Is it worthwhile retaining them - even if it is to continue with them just for appearances as a homage to the past? Knowing they may never be used? Or who knows, one day I might encounter a trailer with those brakes.

My trailer is a electric controlled wired unit for the brakes, so I would need to put a controller in the cabin anyway.

Kind regards
Lionel

Your call Lionel, but I doubt you'd encounter a vacuum trailer these days. In your position I'd have thought wi-fi brakes the most practical, considering its portability.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Your call Lionel, but I doubt you'd encounter a vacuum trailer these days. In your position I'd have thought wi-fi brakes the most practical, considering its portability.

Hello Ian,

Yes, I may just retrain the fittings at the back in homage to how these vans were fitted out when my Dad drove them as a PMG, Telecom, Telstra Linesman. While modernising the actual brake controls so they are compatible to my trailer.

I think I captured all the transitions in the name of the employer Dad stayed with for multiple decades. Post Master General (PMG). BTW. Dad started off in Temora as a Telegram Boy.

Kind regards
Lionel

I once drove for a few trips an old Mercedes Benz prime mover that, helpfully, had hydraulic over air. Totally defeated the point, as I discovered in the Adelaide Hills when it blew a hose from the m/cyl. Instead of the brakes automatically being applied, which has been the case on every other PM I've driven, this time I had no brakes at all. And no, it did not have dual circuit. I'd like to tell you that was fun, but I'd be lying.

I think you'll find it was air over hydraulic, John. The hydraulic actually applied the shoes, if it didn't boil.